Best Time to Get Married in Lake Como: A Month-by-Month Guide

The best time to get married in Lake Como, for most couples we film, is late May, June or September. Those months give warm evenings, gardens in good shape, villas fully open and a sunset late enough to plan a whole day around. But "best" depends on what you want from the day: flowers, heat, quiet, a lower venue fee, or a particular kind of light on film.

This guide goes through the season month by month with long-term climate averages, the sunset time on the 15th of each month (calculated for the town of Como), crowds, venue availability, the villa garden calendar and the ferry timetable. At the end there are two sample wedding day timelines, one for June and one for late September, built around sunset and boat transfers. For the wider planning picture, our Lake Como wedding guide covers venues, ceremonies and logistics.

What is the best month to get married in Lake Como?

June and September are the two months we would put first. June has the longest evenings of the year (sunset around 21:15) and full gardens; September has fewer rain days, softer light and a sunset around 19:30 that fits a classic timeline. Late May and early October are close behind if you accept a little more risk.

A quick way to choose:

• For flowers and long days: mid May to late June.
• For the most settled weather and gentle light: the first three weeks of September.
• For heat and a summer party feeling: July, with a late ceremony.
• For quieter roads and lower demand: April or October, with a covered plan.
• For an intimate wedding or elopement with few guests: November to March, when some hotels close but the lake is empty.

Lake Como weather by month

Lake Como weather from April to October runs from cool spring days around 17°C to summer highs near 28°C, with 7 to 12 rain days a month and sunsets between 18:38 and 21:15. June and July are the warmest and longest; September is the most settled; May has the most rain days.

The temperatures below are long-term averages for the Como weather station (1961 to 1990, published by ENEA and reproduced on Italian Wikipedia's station page). Rain days and monthly rainfall come from Climate-Data.org's Como table, which uses 1991 to 2021 data; it counts a rain day as a day with at least 1 mm. The station figures are a little warmer than the modelled ones, which is what you feel at the water's edge in town.

Two things the averages hide:

• Rain on Lake Como comes in bursts. September and October have high monthly totals (155 mm and 165 mm in the Climate-Data table) but only about eight rain days, because much of it falls in heavy storms. A wet month can still give you a dry Saturday.
• The lake changes by the hour. A clear afternoon can turn stormy by 18:00 and clear again for the party.

Sunset times are our own calculation for Como (45.81° N, 9.09° E) on the 15th of each month, in local time with daylight saving where it applies. In practice the mountains hide the sun earlier than the astronomical sunset, so we come back to that below.

April: blossom, cool evenings and a quiet lake

April is the start of the season. Most villa gardens have just opened, the camellias are finishing and the first azaleas arrive in the second half of the month. Evenings are cool, so April suits a daytime celebration more than a long outdoor dinner.

• Average high / low: 17.2°C / 8.2°C (63°F / 47°F)
• Rain: about 9 rain days, 131 mm
• Sunset on April 15: 20:09 (civil twilight ends 20:40)
• Crowds: low on weekdays, busier around Easter and Italian holidays (April 25, May 1)
• Venue availability: good; many venues are still taking April dates a year out
• On film: clear, crisp air, fresh green on the hills and sometimes snow on the peaks behind Bellagio. Light is cooler and less golden than in summer.

Guests will want a jacket after 19:00, and dinner needs heaters or an indoor room. For flowers, aim for the last ten days of April.

May: the garden month, with the most rain

May is when the villa gardens look their best, and it is also the wettest month by rain days at the Como station (about 12). Showers are usually short, but they come often, so a May wedding needs a ceremony spot that can move under cover within minutes.

• Average high / low: 21.1°C / 11.8°C (70°F / 53°F)
• Rain: 10 rain days in the Climate-Data table, 12 at the Como station; about 140 mm
• Sunset on May 15: 20:47 (civil twilight ends 21:22)
• Crowds: growing; weekends in Bellagio and Varenna get busy
• Venue availability: Saturdays in the second half of May book early, often 12 to 18 months ahead
• On film: the richest greens of the year, flowers everywhere, and dramatic skies after a shower. Rain often clears into very clean evening light.

May is the azalea and rhododendron month. Villa Carlotta's garden page puts the full rhododendron bloom from mid March to mid April and roses at their peak in May; the big azalea display usually runs from mid April into the first half of May, depending on the spring. If you are getting married at or near Villa Carlotta, the first half of May is the time to ask about.

There is also an old Italian saying that May brides are unlucky. It goes back to Roman times and almost nobody on the lake pays attention to it now, but Italian grandparents may mention it.

June: the longest evenings of the year

June is the most requested month and for good reason. Gardens are still full, the water is warm enough for a swim the morning after, and the sun sets after 21:00, so you can hold a ceremony at 17:30 and still have golden light for portraits after the aperitivo.

• Average high / low: 25.6°C / 15.8°C (78°F / 60°F)
• Rain: about 10 rain days, 143 mm, often as late afternoon thunderstorms
• Sunset on June 15: 21:15 (civil twilight ends 21:53); around June 21 it is 21:17
• Crowds: high from mid June, with American and British weddings almost every weekend
• Venue availability: the tightest of the year together with September; popular Saturdays go 18 months or more ahead
• On film: warm, long light and a blue hour that lasts until almost 22:00. Midday sun is hard and overhead, so we avoid putting portraits or a long outdoor ceremony between 12:00 and 16:00.

Because the evening is so long, dinner often starts after 20:30, and guests need a way home after midnight (see the ferry section).

July: heat, haze and late-day storms

July is the hottest month, with an average high of 28.5°C at the Como station and some days well above 30°C. It works well for couples who want a summer party and plan the day around the heat.

• Average high / low: 28.5°C / 18.2°C (83°F / 65°F)
• Rain: about 8 rain days, 115 mm, mostly short storms
• Sunset on July 15: 21:10 (civil twilight ends 21:47)
• Crowds: very high, especially in the central lake (Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzina)
• Venue availability: slightly easier than June or September at some villas, because many planners steer couples away from the heat
• On film: humid haze softens the mountains, so far views look paler than in spring. Evenings after a storm can be the clearest of the month.

Schedule the ceremony at 17:30 or later, in shade, with water and fans for guests. Ask your venue where the shade falls at that hour; a terrace that is lovely at 19:00 can be very hot at 16:00.

August: peak summer and Ferragosto

August is as warm as July, a little wetter, and the busiest month for Italian holidays. August 15 (Ferragosto) is a national holiday, and the week around it brings full ferries, traffic on the lakeside roads and booked-out restaurants.

• Average high / low: 27.2°C / 17.6°C (81°F / 64°F)
• Rain: about 10 rain days, 144 mm, with strong storms possible
• Sunset on August 15: 20:32 (civil twilight ends 21:05)
• Crowds: the highest of the year around mid August
• Venue availability: mixed; some venues love August weddings, a few local suppliers take holidays
• On film: the sun now sets about 45 minutes earlier than in June, which helps a timeline: golden hour lands during the aperitivo instead of halfway through dinner.

If you choose August, avoid the Ferragosto weekend unless your venue and guests are all in one place and nobody needs to drive the lake road.

September: the planners' favorite

September is the month planners tend to recommend first, and we agree. The heat drops, the light turns warmer and lower, and the evenings stay pleasant for dinner outside through most of the month.

• Average high / low: 23.7°C / 14.1°C (75°F / 57°F)
• Rain: about 7 to 8 rain days, but heavy when it comes (155 mm in the Climate-Data table)
• Sunset on September 15: 19:35 (civil twilight ends 20:05); by September 30 it is 19:06
• Crowds: still busy in the first half, quieter after the 20th
• Venue availability: Saturdays in September are often the first to go, together with June
• On film: our favorite light of the season. The sun sits lower all afternoon, the lake turns silver, and golden hour arrives at a time when guests are still outside.

The first three weeks are the safest bet. Late September is lovely too, but bring a shawl for the evening and a heated or indoor room as a backup for dinner.

October: autumn colors and early evenings

October is cooler and quieter, with autumn color on the hills from the middle of the month. It suits couples who are happy with a shorter day and a dinner indoors.

• Average high / low: 18.1°C / 10.0°C (65°F / 50°F)
• Rain: about 7 to 8 rain days, but the highest monthly total of the season (165 mm)
• Sunset on October 15: 18:38 (civil twilight ends 19:08). When clocks go back on the last Sunday of October, sunset jumps to about 17:15
• Crowds: low after mid month
• Venue availability: good; some venues close at the end of October or early November
• On film: warm colors, mist on the water in the morning and a very short golden hour. Darkness arrives before dinner, so most of the evening is lit by candles and the venue's lighting.

For October, move everything earlier: ceremony around 15:00, portraits by 17:00, dinner indoors.

November to March: winter weddings in brief

Winter on Lake Como is cold and quiet: average highs of 7°C to 13°C from December to March, and sunsets around 16:40 to 17:05 in December and January. Many lake hotels and some villas close from early November to mid or late March, and the gardens are bare. What remains is an empty lake, low prices at the venues that stay open, snow on the mountains and very intimate celebrations.

• December 15 sunset: 16:39; January 15: 17:05; February 15: 17:49; March 15: 18:28
• Good for: civil ceremonies in a town hall, small dinners, elopements on Lake Como
• Harder for: large guest lists, outdoor dinners, boat transfers at night

How do the ferries change through the year?

The public ferries run by Navigazione Laghi change timetable several times a year. In 2026 the summer timetable ran from July 1 to October 4, an autumn one from October 5 to November 1, and the winter timetable runs from November 2, 2026 to March 14, 2027, with fewer runs and some stops not served.

What this means for a wedding:

• Public boats are for daytime. Even in summer the last boats on the lower lake run around 20:00, long before a wedding dinner ends. Plan private boats or minibuses for the return.
• Car ferries between Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna and Cadenabbia run into the evening, useful for guests staying across the lake, but not late enough for a party.
• In winter the fast service (hydrofoil) has fewer runs and some smaller piers close, so a guest staying in Como town needs more time to reach the central lake.
• Private boat transfers depend on wind and weather. In storms they can be cancelled at short notice, so every boat plan needs a road plan behind it.

How does the light change your wedding film?

The light on Lake Como changes more between April and October than most couples expect, and it shapes the film as much as the venue does. The key fact is that the mountains take the sun before the official sunset, and on the western shore much earlier.

• Western shore (Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Tremezzina, Lenno): the villas face east, with the mountains behind them. Direct sun leaves the terraces well before sunset, sometimes an hour or more in spring and autumn. The shade is soft and flattering, and the opposite shore lights up gold. For a backlit golden shot here, we often go out on a boat.
• Bellagio and the eastern shore (Varenna): more open to the west, so the direct sun lasts closer to the real sunset.
• Spring: cool, clean light and strong greens. Colors on film look fresh and slightly blue.
• June and July: high, hard sun in the middle of the day and a very long, slow evening. The best footage is after 19:30.
• September: lower sun all day, warm tones, the most forgiving light of the year for faces.
• October and winter: short golden hour, early blue hour, and much of the evening lit by candles, which looks beautiful on film if the venue lighting is warm.

We check the sun path for each terrace and pier before the day with a sun-tracking app, because two villas ten minutes apart can lose the light at very different times.

How the wedding day timeline shifts by season

The rule we work with is simple: put the couple portraits in the last hour of direct light, and build the rest of the day backwards and forwards from there. In June that hour is around 20:00 to 21:00; in late September it is around 18:00 to 19:00. Boat transfers then need to fit around ceremony, portraits and the return of guests.

Both timelines assume ceremony and dinner at one venue, with guests staying across the lake. Your planner will adjust them to the venue's rules and curfew.

Sample timeline: a wedding in mid June (sunset 21:15)

• 13:00: we arrive, film details, dress, rings and invitations
• 14:00: getting ready, bride and groom in separate rooms or hotels
• 16:15: first private boat shuttle for guests from the hotel pier (most crossings take 15 to 30 minutes)
• 17:00: second shuttle, so nobody waits an hour in the sun
• 17:45: ceremony in shade, about 30 to 45 minutes for a symbolic ceremony
• 18:30: aperitivo on the terrace, family photos in the first 20 minutes
• 20:00: couple portraits, ideally a short private boat ride while guests stay at the aperitivo
• 20:45: dinner; around 21:15 guests step out for a toast as the sun goes down
• 21:50: ten minutes of blue hour portraits between courses
• 23:00: cake, first dance and party
• 00:30 and 01:30: return boats or minibuses for guests, timed to the music curfew

Sample timeline: a wedding in late September (sunset 19:15)

• 11:30: we arrive, details and getting ready
• 14:00: first guest boat shuttle; boats are less busy now and the water is usually calm
• 14:45: second shuttle
• 15:30: ceremony, often in full sun, which is comfortable in September
• 16:15: aperitivo and family photos
• 17:45: couple portraits, by boat or on the water's edge, in the last direct light
• 19:00: everyone on the terrace for sunset; a glass of wine before dinner
• 19:30: dinner, outdoors with heaters or indoors with the windows open
• 22:00: cake, first dance and party
• 23:30 and 00:30: return transfers for guests

The difference is about two and a half hours: a late September wedding starts the ceremony at the time a June wedding is still sending out the first shuttle. If you are comparing months, compare the timelines too. A June day is longer and costs more hours of coverage, which matters when you look at what a Lake Como wedding costs.

FAQ

What is the rainiest month on Lake Como?

May has the most rain days at the Como station (about 12), while October and September have the highest monthly totals because rain arrives in heavy storms. In practice every month from April to October needs a covered backup for the ceremony and dinner.

Is September or June better for a Lake Como wedding?

June gives longer evenings and fuller gardens; September gives fewer rain days, milder heat and warmer light. If your priority is the film and comfortable guests, we lean towards the first three weeks of September. If you want a long summer evening and flowers, choose June.

What time is sunset on Lake Como in summer?

Around 21:15 in mid June and 21:10 in mid July, with civil twilight lasting until about 21:50. On the western shore the mountains hide the sun earlier, so the last direct light on a terrace can be an hour before that.

Can you get married on Lake Como in winter?

Yes. Town hall civil ceremonies run all year and some venues stay open, but many lake hotels close from early November to March and the ferries switch to a reduced winter timetable. Winter suits small weddings and elopements more than big guest lists.

How far ahead should we book a Lake Como wedding?

For Saturdays in late May, June and September, 12 to 18 months ahead is normal for venues and the main suppliers, sometimes more. April, July, August and October dates are easier, and weekday weddings are the most flexible.

Planning your date with us

We film weddings across the whole season, from April garden weddings to winter elopements, and we are always happy to look at a date and venue together and tell you how the light will fall there. Our wedding films start from €4,500, with travel included in Italy and Switzerland. To check your date, write to us through our contact page.